Mistral Large 2 (2407) vs Phi-3 Mini 4k
Mistral Large 2 (2407) (2024) and Phi-3 Mini 4k (2024) are compact production models from MistralAI and Microsoft Research. Mistral Large 2 (2407) ships a 128k-token context window, while Phi-3 Mini 4k ships a 4k-token context window. On pricing, Phi-3 Mini 4k costs $0.05/1M input tokens versus $0.50/1M for the alternative. This comparison covers specs, pricing, API access, capabilities, benchmarks, input and output token costs, and production fit for coding and agent workloads.
Phi-3 Mini 4k is ~900% cheaper at $0.05/1M; pay for Mistral Large 2 (2407) only for long-context analysis.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Mistral Large 2 (2407) | Phi-3 Mini 4k |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | multimodal apps and provider-routed production | provider-routed production |
| Decision fit | RAG, Long context, and Vision | Coding and Classification |
| Context window | 128k | 4k |
| Cheapest output | $1.50/1M tokens | $0.25/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 3 tracked | 4 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Mistral Large 2 (2407) has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Mistral Large 2 (2407) uniquely exposes Vision and Structured outputs in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Mistral Large 2 (2407) for RAG, Long context, and Vision.
- Phi-3 Mini 4k has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.25/1M tokens.
- Phi-3 Mini 4k has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- Local decision data tags Phi-3 Mini 4k for Coding and Classification.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
Mistral Large 2 (2407)
$775
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Chutes AI
Phi-3 Mini 4k
$103
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Replicate API
Estimated monthly gap: $673. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on Microsoft Foundry; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Phi-3 Mini 4k is $1.25/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision and Structured outputs before moving production traffic.
- Provider overlap exists on Microsoft Foundry; start route-level A/B tests there.
- Mistral Large 2 (2407) is $1.25/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Mistral Large 2 (2407) adds Vision and Structured outputs in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2024-07-23 | 2024-04-23 |
| Context window | 128k | 4k |
| Parameters | 123B | 3.8B |
| Architecture | decoder only | decoder only |
| License | Mistral License | MIT(OSI) |
| Openness | Open weights | Open source |
| Commercial use | Non-commercial only | Commercial use allowed |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2024-03 | 2023-10 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Mistral Large 2 (2407) | Phi-3 Mini 4k |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.50/1M tokens | $0.05/1M tokens |
| Output price | $1.50/1M tokens | $0.25/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Mistral Large 2 (2407) | Phi-3 Mini 4k |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | No | No |
| Function calling | No | No |
| Tool use | No | No |
| Structured outputs | Yes | No |
| Code execution | No | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: Mistral Large 2 (2407) and structured outputs: Mistral Large 2 (2407). Both models share the core language-model surface, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
For cost, Mistral Large 2 (2407) lists $0.50/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while Phi-3 Mini 4k lists $0.05/1M input and $0.25/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts Phi-3 Mini 4k lower by about $0.69 per million blended tokens. Availability is 3 providers versus 4, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Mistral Large 2 (2407) when long-context analysis and larger context windows are central to the workload. Choose Phi-3 Mini 4k when provider fit, lower input-token cost, and broader provider choice are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, Mistral Large 2 (2407) or Phi-3 Mini 4k?
Mistral Large 2 (2407) supports 128k tokens, while Phi-3 Mini 4k supports 4k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, Mistral Large 2 (2407) or Phi-3 Mini 4k?
Phi-3 Mini 4k is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Mistral Large 2 (2407) costs $0.50/1M input and $1.50/1M output tokens. Phi-3 Mini 4k costs $0.05/1M input and $0.25/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Mistral Large 2 (2407) or Phi-3 Mini 4k open source?
Mistral Large 2 (2407) is listed under Mistral License. Phi-3 Mini 4k is listed under MIT. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for vision, Mistral Large 2 (2407) or Phi-3 Mini 4k?
Mistral Large 2 (2407) has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for structured outputs, Mistral Large 2 (2407) or Phi-3 Mini 4k?
Mistral Large 2 (2407) has the clearer documented structured outputs signal in this comparison. If structured outputs is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run Mistral Large 2 (2407) and Phi-3 Mini 4k?
Mistral Large 2 (2407) is available on Microsoft Foundry, Chutes AI, and SiliconFlow. Phi-3 Mini 4k is available on Microsoft Foundry, NVIDIA NIM, Baseten API, and Replicate API. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-16. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.